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In a bleak Southland college basketball winter devoid of wow, it's the most startling of sights. Ben Howland, sitting in a Century City restaurant in the middle of a Tuesday afternoon, showing off a smartphone photo of him reading a book to his 2-year-old grandson Ben. "He really loves those pop-up books where the sharks and dinosaurs jump right off the pages," he says. "Pretty cool, huh?" Yeah, and pretty weird. UCLA is struggling to sneak into the NCAA tournament, USC has lost 26 of its last 29 conference games, and the most accomplished active college basketball coach in town is hanging out playing grandfather. His current resume includes three consecutive...

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In a bleak Southland college basketball winter devoid of wow, it's the most startling of sights.
Ben Howland, sitting in a Century City restaurant in the middle of a Tuesday afternoon, showing off a smartphone photo of him reading a book to his...

(in predicted order of finish)
1. Spurs
2013-14: 62-20.
Coming: Kyle Anderson.
Going: No one of significance.
Despite all of their sustained success, the Spurs have never won back-to-back titles. In fact they never had reached the NBA Finals in...

Broderick Turner picks the West (in predicted order of finish)
PLAYOFF-BOUND
1.San Antonio
2013-14 finish: 62-20.
Coming: Kyle Anderson.
Going: No one of significance.
Despite a storied history, the Spurs have never won back-to-back titles. In...